Mainly I treat chronic and recurring illnesses in which the patient says, "I've tried all the options that have been offered, and I'm still miserable!" A partial list includes: fatigue, pain, menstrual and menopausal problems, migraine headaches, intestinal discomfort, reduced ability to focus and remember, unexplained weight gain, and recurrent infections, especially viral.

2. What kinds of cases do other doctors refer to you?

A wide variety, but mainly those listed in question No. 1, especially female hormone imbalances, an under-served need in this community.

3. What medical practices do you prefer to refer to others?

In general, I do not enjoy emergency medicine and pediatric crises. Therefore, I do little urgent care or terminal situations.

4. What treatment tools and medicines do you use?

Any natural and/or pharmaceutical that does the least amount of harm. I have my own pharmacy of specialized natural medicines, and I prescribe anything from a traditional pharmacy with the exception of morphine, Lyrica, and a few others. Specialists help me out with the more dangerous drugs.

5. Why did you become a naturopathic physician instead of an M.D.?

Toward the end of my pre-med studies, I realized I had always been most interested in why people were ill or unhealthy, what were the underlying reasons and contributors, and what could be done about these contributors. I realized I had a passion for preventive and balancing medicine for chronic illness rather than for heroic, crisis-oriented medicine that would often occur after it was too late - after the long-lasting discomforts had already taken away quality of life and the freedom to live the way we want to live.

6. What areas of extra training have you found to be the most helpful?

Most people who find their way to me have unidentified imbalances and deficiencies that bother them. Specialized laboratory testing and a knowledge of brain chemistry and psychology have been the most practical additions to my overall basic training.

7. Why doesn't my M.D. know about naturopathic medicine and what you do?

Most M.D.s are focused on a different model of medicine. They are primarily looking for something that is specific to one organ, gland or system. They are not trained (or encouraged) to understand and investigate the relationship of the various parts of the body to one another (for example, the connection of the gut to the skin or the ovarian hormones to the sleep center in the brain).

One of the other major "disconnects" I witness in mainstream, allopathic medicine is the impact that emotions, beliefs and life situations have on a person's body, chemistry and function.

They are trained to mainly manage/treat the disease and limit the look at the full range of influences on the course of the disease. A naturopathic doctor is encouraged to help improve the core health of the person, often reducing the need for so much toxic medication.